switch / Reference / Processing.org

Name

switch

Description

Works like an if else structure, but switch is more convenient when you need to select between three or more alternatives. Program controls jumps to the case with the same value as the expression. All remaining statements in the switch are executed unless redirected by a break. Only primitive datatypes which can convert to an integer (byte, char, and int) may be used as the expression parameter. The default is optional.

Examples

int num = 1;

switch(num) {
  case 0: 
    println("Zero");  // Does not execute
    break;
  case 1: 
    println("One");  // Prints "One"
    break;
}

char letter = 'N';

switch(letter) {
  case 'A': 
    println("Alpha");  // Does not execute
    break;
  case 'B': 
    println("Bravo");  // Does not execute
    break;
  default:             // Default executes if the case names
    println("None");   // don't match the switch parameter
    break;
}

// Removing a "break" enables testing
// for more than one value at once

char letter = 'b';

switch(letter) {
  case 'a':
  case 'A': 
    println("Alpha");  // Does not execute
    break;
  case 'b':
  case 'B': 
    println("Bravo");  // Prints "Bravo"
    break;
}

Syntax

switch(expression)
{
case name:
statements
case name: // Optional
statements // "
default: // "
statements // "
}

Parameters

expressionbyte, char, or int
namebyte, char, or int
statementsone or more statements to be executed

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